Fingernail polish protector

ABSTRACT

A fingernail and toenail protection mechanism particularly useful for protecting wet nail polish until the nail polish has dried. The rigid protector fits over the last digit of an appendage, covering the nail. An opening in the rigid protector allows entry of the appendage. The protector is configured to avoid contact with the nail while allowing air to flow to said nail and the wet nail polish. The rigid protector is secured to the appendage using an adhesive contained within said protector which bonds with the surface of the appendage opposite the nail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fingernails and more particularly to a protection mechanism for fingernail (and toenail) polish.

The polishing of fingernails and toe nails extends back beyond written history. Women and men have used a variety of dyes and paints to provide an ornamental attraction for themselves. In more modern times, these additions have become much more elaborate including designs and ornamental/precious stones, these designs are both time consuming and expensive to apply.

Nail polishes have developed substantially in recent years and include a variety well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,414, entitled “Long Wear Nail Polish” by Smith III, et al. issued on Jun. 27, 2000; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,300, entitled “Long Wear Nail Polish Having Adhesion, Toughness, and Hardness” issued to Ellingson et al. on Oct. 24, 2000; both of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

For obvious reasons, there is a desire to keep the polish, designs and ornamentation, once applied, in as pristine condition as possible. This concern is most pronounce when the polish is still wet. To address this concern, two approaches to the problem have developed: completely dry the polish, or protect the nail during the natural air drying process.

In an effort to provide accelerated drying, numerous devices have been created, including: U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,425, entitled “Portable Device for Curing Gel Nail Preparations” issued to Strait on Jul. 13, 2004; incorporated hereinto by reference. While this mechanism does provide an accelerated drying process, the device is expensive to use and requires additional effort in the drying process.

Other mechanisms have attempted to protect the nail during the drying process. These include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,138, entitled “Fingernail Protective Device” issued to Kling on Oct. 2, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,234, entitled “Fingernail Shielding Method” issued to Silverman on Feb. 4, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,189, entitled “Finger Nail Polish Protector” issued to Harris on Feb. 16, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,816, entitled “Fingernail Protector” issued to Banes et al. on Dec. 23, 1997; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,097, entitled “Three Digit Fingernail Protector” issued to Garret-Roe on May 12, 1998; all of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

While these mechanisms do provide a level of protection, they are difficult to apply, difficult to use, and far from effective.

It is clear there is a need for protection once the polish has been placed on the fingernail or toenail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a fingernail and toenail protection mechanism particularly useful for protecting wet nail polish until the nail polish has dried. Use of the invention is intended during the drying process. To accomplish this, the rigid protector fits over the last digit of an appendage, thereby covering the nail. Since the protector is rigid, not only does the protector prevent contact with the nail from clothing, other fingers, and the like, but, the protector itself does not deform to contact the nail polish.

An opening in the rigid protector permits the nail to be contained with the protector; and, the protector is configured to avoid contact with the nail while allowing air to flow to the nail and the wet nail polish. Air flow or ventilation is provided through a variety of ways in the invention, including having the end of the protector open to the ambient air, and having ventilation holes in the protector. In this way, the wet nail polish is provided proper ventilation to encourage drying.

In one embodiment of the invention, the protector is spherical in shape; other shapes include a “funnel” shape which uses a collar (secured to the finger) with a flared end (extending over and protecting the nail); and an elongated shape.

For the spherical and elongated shape, an embodiment of the invention provides for an opening through which the finger is inserted and then pressed downward, as described later, to secure the finger to protector.

In an alternative embodiment, the spherical and elongated shapes are formed by two pieces, a top and a bottom. In these embodiments, the finger is secured to the bottom as outlined below and then the top “snaps” onto bottom portion to provide the protection required.

In yet another embodiment, the spherical and elongated shapes are formed in “clam shell” arrangements which open along a hinge along one side. The open protector allows the finger to be pressed against the bottom portion to affix the finger bottom to the bottom portion as outlined below. The top portion is then snapped shut and secured using a fastener well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The protector is secured to the appendage through the use of an adhesive. The adhesive is chosen to permit both a proper securing of the protector to the appendage, but, also allowing for removal of the appendage once the nail polish has dried.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rigid protector is secured to the appendage using an adhesive contained within said protector which bonds with the surface of the appendage opposite the nail. In this embodiment, the adhesive is placed on the “lower” portion of the protector allowing the finger to be pressed against the adhesive as the finger is placed within the protector. The adhesive secures to the bottom of the finger and holds the top of the protector away from the drying nail polish.

In some embodiments, the adhesive includes a foam support which provides greater comfort for the user.

The invention, together with various embodiments thereof, will be more fully explained by the accompanying drawings and the following descriptions thereof.

DRAWINGS IN BRIEF

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two alternative embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the invention which has a hinged side allowing for easier placement of the finger.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a two part embodiment of the invention.

DRAWINGS IN DETAIL

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention. Rigid container 10A is formed of a clear plastic and has opening 15 through which finger 11A is inserted as indicated by arrow 16.

Rigid container 10A also contains vent holes 12A and 12B which are positioned around the walls of container 10A. Positioned within rigid container 10A is foam pad 14A which has an adhesive thereon.

When finger 11B is placed within container 10B, and pressed downward onto foam pad 14A, the adhesive bonds the finger to the bottom of rigid container 10B. This secures the rigid container around nail 13 (on which a nail polish has been applied) allowing ambient air 13A to enter via vent holes 12A and 12B to dry the nail polish.

When the polish on nail 13 is dry, the user simply presses downward on the top of rigid container 10B, forcing the adhesive on foam pad 14B to release. Finger 11B can then be readily removed.

In this manner, rigid container 10B protects the nail polish on nail 13 from being contacted yet allows the nail polish to naturally dry in the ambient air.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two alternative embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in this embodiment rigid container 20 is elongated having one end 21 thereof open for insertion of the finger (not shown). Adhesive 22 is positioned along the bottom of rigid container 20. Vent holes 23 permit ambient air 24 to flow through to dry the polish on the fingernail (not shown).

FIG. 2B, an alternative embodiment of the invention, rigid container 25 has a collared end 28A which fits around finger 27 and is secured thereto using adhesive 26. The opposing end 28B of rigid container 25 is flared permitting the flow of ambient air 29 to the nail. This embodiment is particularly effective as flared end 28B permits a large volume of ambient air to flow around the nail polish, thereby drying the nail polish faster.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the invention which has a hinged side allowing for easier placement of the finger.

The rigid container has a top portion 31A which is connected to bottom portion 30A via hinge 32. This permits the top portion to move as indicated by arrow 33.

Top portion 31A has an opening 34A and clasp 37A. Bottom portion 30A contains a foam adhesive 35A and clasp 36A.

When the top portion is rotated as indicated by arrow 33, the result is illustrated in FIG. 3B. As shown, the top portion 31B covers finger 38 and its attendant fingernail. Finger 38 is secured to the bottom portion 3013 via foam adhesive 35B. Clasp 36B engages with clasp 36B to secure top portion 31B to bottom portion 30B.

This embodiment of the invention, working in a “clamshell” arrangement, permits the user to place their finger against the adhesive and then close/snap the pieces together to form a rigid protector around the drying fingernail.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a two part embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment uses two separate pieces to form the rigid protector. A top portion 40A is pressed downward against a bottom portion 41A. Clamping edges 44A and 44B engage one another to bond/“snap” the top portion 40B to the bottom portion 41B with finger 46 secured to adhesive 42B. Finger 46 is placed against adhesive 42A prior to the top portion 40A being snapped against bottom portion 41A. Hole 47A surrounds finger 46 as shown in FIG. 4B′s hole 47B.

It is clear that the present invention provides a highly improved protector for fingernail and toenail polish. 

1. A protection mechanism fitting over the last digit of an appendage comprising: a) a protector having an opening accepting the last digit of the appendage, said protector configured to avoid contact with a nail on the appendage and allowing air to flow to said nail; and, b) an adhesive contained within said protector and securing said protector to the appendage.
 2. The protection mechanism according to claim 1, a) wherein said protector is substantially spherical in shape having an opening accepting said appendage; and, b) wherein said protector includes vent holes therethrough.
 3. The protection mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said protector includes: a) a top portion; b) a bottom portion; c) a hinge connecting a first side of said top portion to a first side of the bottom portion; and, d) a clasp mechanism having a first clasp component positioned on the top portion and a second clasp component position on the bottom portion, said first clasp component and said second clasp component engaging each other when the top portion contacts the bottom portion.
 4. The protection mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said adhesive is contained within the bottom portion of said protector.
 5. The protection mechanism according to claim 4, further including a foam pad positioned in the bottom portion of said protector, said foam pad having the adhesive thereon.
 6. The protection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said protector: a) is elongated in shape having an opening accepting said appendage at a first end of said protector; and, b) includes vent holes therethrough.
 7. The protection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said protector includes: a) a substantially circular collar containing said adhesive adapted to fit over said appendage; and, b) a flared portion extending from said substantially circular collar over said nail.
 8. The protection mechanism according to claim 7, wherein an end of said flared portion is open to ambient air.
 9. A fingernail protector comprising: a) a rigid body having an opening accepting the last digit of the appendage to encase a fingernail therein, said rigid body allowing air to flow to said fingernail; and, b) an adhesive contained within said rigid body and securing a bottom of said appendage to said rigid body.
 10. The fingernail protector according to claim 9, wherein said rigid body includes: a) a top portion; b) a bottom portion; c) a hinge connecting a first side of said top portion to a first side of the bottom portion; and, d) a clasp mechanism adapted to selectively secure the top portion to the bottom portion.
 11. The fingernail protector according to claim 10, wherein said adhesive is contained within the bottom portion of said protector.
 12. The fingernail protector according to claim 9, a) wherein said rigid body protector includes: 1) a substantially circular collar containing said adhesive adapted to fit over said appendage, and, 2) a flared portion extending from said substantially circular collar; and, b) wherein an end of said flared portion is open to ambient air.
 13. The fingernail protector according to claim 12, wherein said rigid body includes a top portion securable to a bottom portion.
 14. A protection mechanism fitting an appendage comprising: a) a protector having an opening accepting the appendage having a nail thereon, said protector configured to avoid contact with said nail on the appendage and allowing air to flow to said nail; and, b) an adhesive contained within said protector for securing said protector to a surface opposite said nail.
 15. The protection mechanism according to claim 14, a) wherein said protector is substantially spherical in shape having an opening accepting said appendage; and, b) wherein said protector includes vent holes therethrough.
 16. The protection mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said protector includes a top portion securable to a bottom portion.
 17. The protection mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said adhesive is contained within the bottom portion of said protector.
 18. The protection mechanism according to claim 17, further including a foam pad positioned in the bottom portion of said protector, said foam pad having the adhesive thereon.
 19. The protection mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said protector is elongated in shape and includes vent holes therethrough.
 20. The protection mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said protector includes: a) a substantially circular collar containing said adhesive adapted to fit over said appendage; and, b) a flared portion extending from said substantially circular collar with an open end distal from said collar. 